Volume 104, Issue 8, 2026
October 2026
- Title:
- Volume 104, Issue 8, 2026
- Issue Name:
- October 2026
- Date Issued:
- 2026-10-01
- year:
- 2026
- month:
- October
- Season:
- Autumn
- PDF filename:
- NL_104.08_2026_Oct_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Cover image:
- NL_104.08_2026_Oct_Cover.jpg
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 104
- issue:
- 08
- number:
- 104.08
- Decade:
- 2020s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Subject:
- nebraskaland
- Extracted Text:
-
I N S P I R I N G O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R E S I N C E 1 92 6
INSIDE
100 Years of Pheasant Hunting • A Fall Color Understory
The Fungus and the Fly • Alexandria’s Camp Spook
Ghost Stories from the Parks • Pirate Bugs
O C TO B E R 2 02 6
2
Nebraskaland • October 2026
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
3
Volume 104
20
24
•
No. 8
•
October 2026
THE FUNGUS AND THE FLY
26
32
Story and Photos by Chris Helzer
OUTDOOR NEBRASKA
What to Do in October
By Jeff Kurrus
CAMP SPOOK AT ALEXANDRIA
Story and Photos by Eric Fowler
BEYOND PHEASANTS: ONE GAME
BIRD’S IMPACT ON GRASSLAND
CONSERVATION
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
42
NEBRASKA’S CHANGING
BOUNDARIES
By David L. Bristow
Nebraska State Historical Society
44
BEYOND THE COLORFUL CANOPY
AT INDIAN CAVE STATE PARK
Story and Photos by Gerry Steinauer
50
SOME VISITORS DON’T
REQUIRE A RESERVATION
Edited by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Departments
7 Your Nebraska
12 In the Field
Mixed Bag
55
62 Portraits from the Past
64 The Last Stop
On the Web
For more articles and information,
visit NebraskalandMagazine.com
Nebraskaland (VOL. 104 / NO. 8 ISSN 0028-1964) is published monthly, except for the combined
Jan./Feb. and Aug./Sept. issues, by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd
St., Lincoln, NE. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska, and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY
FACILITIES: send address corrections to Nebraskaland, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
4
Nebraskaland • October 2026
Cover: A young trick-or-treater gets an up-close look at an
animatronic ghoul at Alexandria State Recreation Area’s Camp
Spook celebration. See story on page 26. ERIC FOWLER
This page: Wearing her fortuneteller costume, Liv Lecher paints a
pumpkin during Chadron State Park’s Halloween celebration. Read
about another Halloween celebration on page 25. JUSTIN HAAG
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
5
Instagram Photos
magazine
Published by the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission since 1926. The Commission
is dedicated to the conservation and
protection of all the state's natural
resources and the people who use them.
Magazine Staff
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Public Relations Manager Shawna Richter-Ryerson
Editor Jeff Kurrus
Associate Editor Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Regional Editors Eric Fowler, Julie Geiser,
Justin Haag
Contributing Editor Michael Forsberg
Regular Contributors Chris Helzer, Chris Masada,
Todd Mills, Ryan Sparks, Gerry Steinauer
Art Director Ryan Holt
Graphic Designer Mel Severin
Videographer Nick Sauvageau
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Administration
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Vice Chair - Dan Hughes, Venango
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Owner and publisher: Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission
Editor: Jeff Kurrus
Headquarters of Publisher and Publication:
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Average number of copies
of each issue during
preceding 12 months
A. Total Copies Printed
(net press run)...................... 16,740............ 16,760
B. Paid Circulation
1. Mail subscriptions............ 14,610............ 14,662
3. Single-copy sales....................736................. 813
C. Total Paid Circulation........... 15,346............ 15,475
D. Free Distribution
by Mail.........................................377................. 377
D. Free Distribution
Outside the Mail.........................341................. 341
E. Total Free Distribution...............718................. 718
F. Total Distribution.................. 16,064............ 16,193
G. Copies Not Distributed..............676................. 567
H. Total....................................... 16,740............ 16,760
I. Percent Paid and/or
Requested Circulation......... 95.52%........... 95.55%
Nebraskaland Magazine Copyright 2026, all rights reserved. Nebraskaland is available in audio from the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book
and Braille Service, Suite 120, 1200 N St., Lincoln, NE 68508. 800-742-7691. Nebraskaland Magazine and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
reserve the right to reject any advertising not in keeping with the agency mission. Rates: $18 for one year; $33 for two years; $44 for three years.
Nebraska recipients must add appropriate sales tax. To subscribe call 1-800-NEBLAND (632-5263), or go online to: NebraskalandMagazine.com.
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Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in
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1849 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20240.
6
Nebraskaland • October 2026
ADMINISTRATION
Jeff Clauson
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Administrator
Travis Shepler
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
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Asst. Administrator
(Includes counties covered)
NORTHWEST
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Keith Jadlowski 531-310-2869
Keith, Arthur
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
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402-617-2112
Sergeant
Josh Widhelm
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Scotts Bluff, Banner, Sioux
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Mark Sullivan
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Lancaster, Seward, Butler
Jarrod Messman 531-739-9760
Lancaster, Saline, York
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
7
Your Nebraska
Phil Zoucha, Omaha
Bobbers
Joe Foley, Omaha
A Lake Zorinsky Sunrise
CORRECTION: The photo of “The
‘Birdnerd’” Jason St. Sauver in the
August/September issue should
have been credited to Brady Karg.
We regret the error.
Send your comments and photos to:
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503
or email Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov
Please include your postal address
and telephone number. Letters
may be condensed and edited.
Photographs are also welcome.
Justin Huskey, Omaha
Barred Owl
8
Nebraskaland • October 2026
Mark Kottmeyer, Kearney
Bridge to the Archway
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
9
Your Nebraska
A change once again gripped the landscape, and a
rippling ocean of grass returned. Things were quiet past
Thedford with the only signs of settlement being barbed
wire strung along the gravel roads, one of which we
pulled off on, so I could photograph a wind pump.
I was hesitant to delay our arrival any further, but my
grandpa said, “I’ve learned that when you see something
you like, you should stop. You might never see it again.”
When one asks what attracted him to my grandma, he
says he saw her painting a picket fence in a bikini.
From Owen Oppenheimer’s unpublished essay, “Love and Death on the Prairie”
JUSTIN HAAG
10
Nebraskaland • October 2026
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
11
In the Field
While obviously photogenic, there’s more than meets the eye on leaf jams
like this one at First Woman Creek in Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area.
See story on page 14. JUSTIN HAAG
12
Nebraskaland • October 2026
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
13
In the Field
Autumn Jams
Leaves in streams are inviting to photographers … and much smaller creatures
By Justin Haag
It’s always worth a stop.
When fall arrives, I often find myself laying prone along a
Pine Ridge stream photographing leaves that have gathered
at an obstruction in the water’s flow. The cottonwoods,
willows, maples and whatever other trees reside in the area
project the diversity of a riparian area at leaf jams through
reds, golds and browns, accented by the shimmering rush of
the water, in a small package.
These leaf jams, or packs, not only make for nice fall
imagery, but more importantly play a role in a stream’s health.
As microscopic fungi and bacteria break down the leaves,
they become a source of nutrition for the stream’s creatures
at the lower end of the chain. These macroinvertebrates,
such as caddisflies and mayflies, later serve as food for fish,
amphibians and birds. Similar to other obstructions in a
stream, leaf packets can also function as a place for fish to
hide and rest.
As fall turns to winter, these leaves slowly release nitrogen
and carbon — essential building blocks for stream life.
Researchers often take a close look at leaf packs to
assess a stream’s health, as the presence and absence of
certain macroinvertebrates can determine how pristine, or
degraded, the water is. Some creatures are more tolerant to
pollution than others.
Fungi. Bacteria. Macroinvertebrates. Researchers.
Photographers. For being such a model of serenity, these
little jams have a way of packing in a lot of activity. Be sure
to stop and take it all in. Or, just take a picture.
Water flows around fallen leaves caught on an obstruction at First Woman Creek in Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area.
14
Nebraskaland • October 2026
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
15
In the Field
Campfire Basics
By Greg Wagner
Few outdoor experiences are as timeless as sitting
around a campfire. Wouldn’t you agree? Whether you are
roasting marshmallows for s’mores, staying warm on a cool
evening, or simply enjoying the glow beneath the stars, a
campfire can become the centerpiece of any camping trip.
Learning the principles of building and managing a fire is
an essential outdoor skill that combines preparation, safety
and respect for nature. Here are the basics to follow:
General Rules & Safety Guidelines
Local Burn or Campfire Bans: Know if a local burn or
campfire ban is in effect. All wood and charcoal fires are
strictly prohibited.
Permitted Alternatives: Propane or butane camp stoves
and grills are allowed even during periods of high fire risk
because they don’t produce blowing embers.
Containment: Campfires must be kept small, under
control and confined exclusively to established fire rings,
grills, or designated fireplaces provided at Nebraska state
parklands and wildlife management areas.
Site Preparation: Clear away all flammable materials
(dry leaves, grass, twigs and brush) for at least 5 to 15 feet
around the campfire. Take into account the wind direction.
Firewood: To protect local woodlands from the emerald ash
borer and other invasive pests, only burn firewood sourced
within 50 miles of your destination. Do not cut live trees or
damage vegetation for firewood.
Wildfire Prevention: Never leave a fire unattended.
Always keep a metal shovel or rake and a bucket of water or
fire extinguisher handy. Stir the coals repeatedly to ensure
the embers are completely drowned and cold to the touch
before leaving.
Clean Up: Do not leave trash in the fire pit.
Nick Fisher and his daughter, Adisen,
of Falls City sit around a campfire in a
backcountry campsite at Indian Cave State
Park in Nemaha and Richardson counties.
ERIC FOWLER
16
Nebraskaland • October 2026
Understanding Fire Materials
A successful campfire depends on three basic fuel types:
Tinder
Tinder is small, dry material that
ignites easily. Tinder helps start the
initial flame. Examples include:
• Dry leaves
• Pine needles
• Bark shavings
• Dryer lint
• Cotton balls coated in
petroleum jelly
Kindling
Kindling consists of small sticks
and twigs that catch fire quickly
after the tinder ignites. Good
kindling is dry and roughly
pencil-sized.
Firewood
Firewood supplies the main
fuel source. It provides
long-lasting heat and larger
flames. Split logs or cut,
thicker branches work well
for fuel once the fire is
established.
Common Campfire Structures
Different fire layouts serve different purposes.
Tipi Fire
A tipi fire is one of the easiest methods
for beginners. This structure allows
excellent airflow and creates a strong
flame quickly.
1.
Place tinder in the center.
2.
Arrange kindling around it in a
cone shape.
3.
Add slightly larger sticks over the
kindling.
4. Light the tinder from several sides.
Log Cabin Fire
The log cabin style produces a stable,
long-burning fire. This design works
well for cooking and steady heat.
1.
Start with a small teepee fire in
the center.
2.
Stack larger sticks around it
in alternating layers like a
square cabin.
3. Leave gaps for airflow.
Lighting the Fire
Use matches, a lighter or a fire starter like a magnesium
system to ignite the tinder. Never use gasoline or other
flammable liquids to start or revive a fire. Begin slowly and
allow the kindling to catch fire before adding larger wood.
A common mistake made is adding too much wood too
quickly. Fires need oxygen, so avoid smothering the flame.
If the fire struggles, gently fan or blow air onto the flames.
Once the fire is established:
• Add wood gradually.
• Keep the fire at a small, manageable size.
• Rearrange logs occasionally to maintain airflow.
Cooking Over a Campfire
Campfires are excellent for simple outdoor cooking.
Common campfire foods include:
• Hot dogs
• Marshmallows
• Foil packet meals
• Corn on the cob
• Cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven recipes
Lean-To Fire
A lean-to fire performs well in windy
or damp conditions. The larger log
shields the flame from wind and helps
concentrate heat.
1.
Place a large log on the windward
side of the fire ring/pit.
2.
Put tinder beneath the log.
3.
Lean kindling against the larger
log at an angle.
4.
Ignite the tinder.
Allow flames to settle into hot coals before cooking. Coals
provide more even heat and reduce burning.
Cooking hot dogs or marshmallows over a campfire
is a classic and safe camping tradition, provided you
use extendable, long-handled, metal roasting sticks or
forks, closely supervise children and cook over glowing
coals rather than open flames. It is best to use longhandled, steel cooking tools with rubber handles and
heat-resistant gloves when working with food over the
fire for safety.
Extinguishing the Fire Properly
The cause of many wildfires — campfires that are not fully
extinguished! Follow these steps carefully to properly put
out a campfire:
1.
Pour water over the fire slowly.
2.
Stir the ashes and embers with a shovel.
3. Add more water until all hissing stops.
4.
Carefully feel ash to ensure they are cool.
The fire should be cold enough to touch before you leave the
area. Remember, if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
17
In the Field
Pheasant, Cream
and Mushrooms
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
This is a wild game version of an ItalianAmerican dish called chicken marsala. It’s like
making pheasant with cream of mushroom
soup from scratch, plus a few more ingredients
to elevate the dish. While this recipe requires
several additional ingredients and steps than
dumping a can of soup over pheasant, there’s no
comparison in flavor.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
• 4 pheasant breasts
• 8 to 10 ounces fresh mushrooms
(pictured are chamshell and shimeji)
• 1 large shallot, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp. of olive oil, divided
• 1 tbsp. of butter
• ½ cup dry Marsala wine
• 1 cup low-sodium game or chicken stock
• ½ cup of heavy cream
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 fresh sage leaf, optional
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• Kosher salt
• Freshly cracked pepper
• Chopped flat leaf parsley for garnish
1.
Place pheasant breasts inside a zip-top bag
or between two sheets of plastic wrap and
pound with a meat mallet to even thickness.
Lightly sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides
of breasts. Set aside.
18
Nebraskaland • October 2026
2. In a large skillet with a lid, add 1 tablespoon
of olive oil and warm over medium-high
heat. When the oil starts to shimmer, add the
mushrooms and sauté until golden. Remove
the mushrooms from skillet onto a plate and
set aside.
3. Lower heat to medium or medium low and add
shallot. Sauté until softened. Then add garlic
and stir for 1 minute — do not brown. Add
Marsala wine, scraping the bottom of the pan
to release browned bits. Simmer and reduce
wine by half.
4.
I n a different skillet, melt butter and 1
tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.
In a wide, shallow bowl, combine flour, ½
teaspoon of salt, and freshly cracked pepper to
taste. When the oil/butter is hot, coat pheasant
breasts in flour and fry on both sides until
golden. Then take off heat.
5.
After wine is reduced by half, add stock to
the sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Then
turn down heat to low and stir in heavy
cream, thyme sprigs and sage. Add browned
mushrooms and pheasant breasts to the sauce.
Cover and simmer for 5 minutes for cream to
thicken and pheasant to cook through. Do not
allow cream to boil. If sauce becomes thick,
loosen with more stock.
Take off heat and season to taste. Garnish with
chopped parsley before serving with pasta noodles,
orzo, couscous, mashed potatoes or polenta.
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
19
u
F
n
e
g
h
T and the Flyus
Story and Photos by Chris Helzer
I
’m going to tell you a story about a fungus that attacks and kills flies in an
incredible and somewhat creepy way. Before I do that, I want to be sure you’re
in the right frame of mind to read this, by which I mean that I want you to feel
some empathy for the flies. I say that because I’m pretty sure many of you are
already thinking, “Well, good! Flies are super annoying.”
Sure, some flies can be super annoying. House flies often come into your home,
sample your food and buzz around your head and windows. Deer flies, stable flies,
horse flies and a few others can give you a painful bite. Mosquitos are flies, too, and
we all know about mosquitos.
However, it is estimated that North America has more than 61,000 species of
flies, making flies the most diverse group of insects on the continent. Each of
those fly species has its own unique lifestyle and set of roles in the ecosystem,
and the vast majority do nothing that should annoy you. For example, flies can
be pollinators, predators, parasitoids, decomposers and/or root feeders on plants.
Many play one role as a larva and another as an adult. House flies, mosquitos
and the other aforementioned annoying fly species are not representative of the
astonishing diversity of fly species helping to support life on earth.
In other words, flies are important. As are the fungi out there killing them.
Drone flies are important
pollinators for many wildflowers.
20
Nebraskaland • October 2026
I want you
to feel some
empathy for
the flies.
This fly was infected and killed by fungus.
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
21
The white bands around the abdomen of
this fly produce spores that will disperse
and infect other flies.
About 50 different species of fungi called Entomopthora (Latin for “insect
destroyer”) can attack flies. The assault starts when a tiny spore lands on the body
of the fly. The spore produces hyphae, which are kind of like the roots of the fungus,
and those hyphae grow and branch out into the body of the fly.
As those hyphae move through the fly, the fungus absorbs both water and
nutrients from the fly to support its own growth. More importantly, the hyphae
eventually work their way through the fly’s body and into its brain, where the
fungus takes control. The fungus-operated brain then tells the fly to climb as high
as it can on a plant or other structure. Simultaneously, the fungus/fly creates and
secretes a glue-like substance that helps the fly anchor itself to its high position
once it arrives.
Stuck securely to the top of a plant, full of fungal hyphae, and having lost control
of its own brain, the fly then spreads its wings and dies. Soon afterward, sporangia
(fruit-like structures) appear on the outside of the fly and, eventually, release their
tiny spores. The fly’s elevated position helps ensure those spores travel as far as
possible — hopefully, from the fungus’ perspective, getting picked up by a breeze
before they hit the ground. Those airborne spores travel through the air and a few
of them will likely land on a fly to start the whole process again.
However, while that’s a pretty good strategy, it’s not the only one the fungus can
use to infect more flies. Male flies are often drawn to female flies who have recently
died from a fungal attack and when they attempt to mate with them, the dumb
guys pick up spores. When those male flies subsequently mate with other living
females, some of those spores can infect those females as well.
You can see the results of this creepy, cool interaction in a couple of ways. If you
keep your eyes peeled out in nature, you might spot a fly sitting unnaturally still
at the top of a plant with its wings spread. If you look carefully, you can often see
the sporangia, which can look like white bands wrapped around the fly’s abdomen.
I think it looks like a bacon-wrapped fly. My wife thinks it looks like the fly is
wearing a diaper. Either way, it’s distinctive.
Other times, you might find dead flies, usually house flies, stuck high up on a
window. On closer inspection, you might see a small halo of spores on the glass
surrounding the carcass. While you’re wiping those spores off the glass, you
can congratulate yourself on finding evidence of the continued success of the
Entomopthora fungi.
Are these fungal attacks on the flies of the world a good thing? That’s probably
the wrong question to ask. Sure, if some of your local house flies get killed and stop
buzzing around your house, you might see that as a positive. More broadly, these
fungus-fly interactions are just great examples of the mind-boggling complexity
of relationships in nature. Complexity builds resilience, and we all rely upon the
resilience of nature for our own survival. Like them or not, we need flies to do
all the jobs flies can do. That doesn’t mean we want uncontrolled numbers of
them, though. Just like spiders and birds, Entomopthora fungi help us keep fly
populations in check. They just do it in a creepier way. N
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
Stuck securely to the top
of a plant, full of fungal
hyphae, and having lost
control of its own brain,
the fly then spreads its
wings and dies.
October 2026 •
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23
Outdoor
Neb raska
WHAT TO DO IN OCTOBER
By Jeff Kurrus
Whether hunting, fishing or witnessing autumn’s
beauty, go outside for what might be Outdoor
Nebraska’s best month of the year.
Somewhere New
N
Many seasons ago, a group of friends landed at Grove Lake in October for a cast
and blast day. While the casting was great, the fishing was slow, so I took to the
adjacent wildlife management area to dove hunt. That afternoon became one
of my favorite hunting memories ever, finding doves immediately, and always
serves as a reminder to hunt someplace new this year. Pick a spot on the map and
try your luck — whether it’s for upland, small game, waterfowl or even big game.
Sometimes a simple diversion can introduce an entirely new tradition.
JEFF KURRUS
Fly-Fishing Class
Roadside Color
Fishing the Fall
A Calamus Halloween
On Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MDT,
join members of the Cornhusker Fly
Fishers for a one-day fly-fishing and
fly-tying class at Chadron State Park.
Participants will learn casting and flytying basics, and the class will include
all fishing equipment, materials and
tools. The cost is $25 per person with
lunch and refreshments provided.
Participants must be 12 years and
older and registration is required at
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Spots
are limited.
An after-dinner drive or walk this
month, whether from your house or
your campsite, is the perfect way to
see fall color in Nebraska’s state park
system. Look at Ponca, Indian Cave,
Platte River and Mahoney state parks
in the east and Fort Robinson and
Chadron in the west from the seat of
your vehicle.
As fish pack on pounds this fall,
make sure you’re on the water. I
understand that the smell of recently
spent shotgun shells is intoxicating,
but so is the sight of a rod bending
double. Where you find baitfish, you
will find bigger fish. Now is not the
time to sit in one spot trying to draw
a fish to you. Move quickly, either by
land or boat, to find lunkers in search
of food before winter.
Celebrate Halloween at Calamus
State Recreation Area on Saturday,
Oct. 17, for the park’s 38th annual
Pumpkin Carvers Event. Activities
begin at 9:30 a.m., including pumpkin
carving, games and a pumpkin rolling
derby on the west side of the shower
house area at the Homestead Knolls
campground. While a limited number
of pumpkins will be provided, visitors
are encouraged to bring their own.
The celebration concludes after dark
with a pumpkin display, decorated
campsites and trick-or-treating. Find
information on other Halloween
eve n t s t h ro u g h o u t t h e s t a te a t
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
JUSTIN HAAG
JEFF KURRUS
ERIC FOWLER
ERIC FOWLER
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25
Camp Spook at Alexandria
Story and Photos by Eric Fowler
Lorna Thomas, Addison Paul and Layne
Wolfe man a guillotine along a haunted walk
through the woods in the west campground
during the annual Camp Spook Halloween
event at Alexandria State Recreation Area.
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
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27
I
n 2013, inspired by an event they saw at a lake in Kansas, area
residents hosted the first Camp Spook to celebrate Halloween
at Alexandria State Recreation Area in Jefferson County.
Just eight recreational vehicles showed up that first year, and
not many more the next. The past five years, however, has seen
attendance boom, making it the busiest weekend the quiet park
sees all year.
Campers now start rolling into the park on Tuesday to snap up the
best sites, with some coming from as far away as Lincoln and Kansas.
Nearly all the campsites in both of the park’s campgrounds are filled
with RVs by Saturday morning. Most sport decorations ranging from
simple lights, pumpkins and inflatables to animatronic monsters
and smoke-filled tunnels of terror, all to the delight of hundreds of
Visitors had to walk through a smoky tunnel to get treats at this campsite.
trick-or-treaters who arrive from Bruning, Hebron, Meridian and
other nearby towns to get an early start on gathering free sweets.
A young trick-or-treater gets an up-close look at an animatronic ghoul gracing a campsite
at Alexandria SRA.
A trail connecting two sections of the west campground at Alexandria becomes
a haunted walk through the woods during Camp Spook.
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
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29
Alexandria SRA has become a hotspot for campers looking to dole out treats and
trick-or-treaters wanting to load up on candy.
Daniel Durflinger and Brent and Layne Wolfe man their butcher’s table along the haunted
walk through the woods.
Shelia Durflinger of Bruning organizes the event, having taken over for a family
member in 2019 after being a participant for a few years. She works with other
families to create a haunted walk through the woods on a trail connecting two
sections of the park’s west campground. There, visitors might find their heart skip
a beat when someone jumps out of a bush or from behind a tree, be begged for
help from someone strapped in a guillotine or grossed out by the body parts on the
butcher’s table.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Durflinger said. “We’ve been doing it since our kids were
little. They really get into it and like helping, and they liked trick-or-treating. Now
they like being the scarers.
“I live in the country, so no one comes to my house trick-or-treating and no one
gets to see my decorations, so I take them to Alex for a weekend and let everybody
see them.”
Whether you enjoy watching smiles on the faces of your children as they roam
the campgrounds in costume, or like passing out candy to those smiling faces in
front of your camper, Alexandria SRA is a bloody good place to be on a Saturday
night in late October. N
Not all campsites are decorated with ghouls and goblins. This one carries a theme of Charles
Schultz’ Peanuts classic television special, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”
30
Nebraskaland • October 2026
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31
Beyond
Pheasants
ONE GAME BIRD’S IMPACT ON
GRASSLAND CONSERVATION
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Hunters walk across a Conservation Reserve Program
field in northeastern Nebraska. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
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33
O
pening day felt like a holiday. In rural towns, cars lined both sides of Main
Street. People traveled from across the state, and across the country, to hunt
this iconic bird of the Midwest. Wherever upland habitat existed, swaths of
canvas and wool plaid were sure to follow. And the excitement didn’t end with
opening day. During its heyday, pheasant hunting was as synonymous with Nebraska as
Cornhusker football.
It was a fall tradition that brought family and friends together. It gave those who had moved
away a reason to come home, and it boosted the economies of small towns. For many, those
memories remain vivid, and the nostalgia is still palpable.
While there’s no denying the landscape has changed, there is much to reflect on this 100th
pheasant hunting season. More than a symbol of our sporting heritage, the ring-necked
pheasant has become a measure of the resilience of our native grasslands. These birds remind
us that while much has been lost, there is still much opportunity to be had.
A Naturalized Bird
Nebraskaland artist “Bud” Pritchard
hunts pheasants in the early 1960s.
NEBRASKALAND PHOTO LIBRARY
Will Stricker, left, poses with four other
hunters, unknown, in the Frederick Hotel
in Loup City during one of Nebraska’s first
pheasant seasons. PHOTO COURTESY OF LARRY JONES
34
Nebraskaland • October 2026
The ring-necked pheasant is not native to North America.
The first successful introductions occurred in Oregon’s
Willamette Valley in the 1880s, and the bird’s popularity
as a game species quickly spread across the country. With
little regulation at the time, Nebraskans embraced the
opportunity, capturing wild pheasants and releasing them
throughout the state. By 1892, newspapers reported that
the birds had established a foothold in eastern Nebraska,
according to Lonnie Shafer, author of “Nebraska Pheasant
Introduction 101.”
Much like their native habitat in Asia, pheasants
flourished in Nebraska’s mosaic of small grain fields, native
grasslands and wetlands. This blend of diverse, smalloperation farms and natural cover created ideal conditions
for the birds to thrive. Abundant small fields of grains, such
as wheat and sorghum, provided cover and preferred food
sources, while nearby grasslands and wetlands offered
secure nesting cover, plentiful insects to fuel chick growth
and critical shelter during harsh winter weather.
In 1927, the Bureau of Game and Fish — now the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission — established Nebraska’s
first pheasant hunting season. According to the April issue
of “Outdoor Nebraska” that year, each hunter was allowed
a limit of five male pheasants in all of Wheeler County and
portions of Sherman County, where the birds had become
especially abundant. The inaugural season lasted three
days, Oct. 6–8, and drew about 2,000 hunters who harvested
roughly 5,000 birds.
This noninvasive, naturalized bird continued to succeed
across the state, assimilating with the landscape as
though it had always been there. Pheasant hunting in
Nebraska reached its initial peak in mid-1940s, and, after
a steep decline, peaked again in the early 1960s thanks
A ring-necked pheasant stands in a
crop field in Dawes County. JUSTIN HAAG
October 2026 •
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35
Pheasant hunters return to their vehicles
during the 2013 Pheasants Forever Rooster
Road Trip. PF representatives hunted Holt
and Antelope counties during their visit to
Nebraska. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
to the federal Soil Bank Program, which paid farmers to
idle cropland, resulting in ideal pheasant habitat and the
golden years of bird hunting.
But in the decades that followed, land managers began
to observe a steady decline in bird numbers, a trend that
coincided with sweeping changes in agricultural land-use
and farming practices. Populations rebounded following the
introduction of the Conservation Reserve Program in 1985,
but by the mid-1990s, as those grasslands aged or land was
returned to production, pheasant numbers again began to
decline. That has continued as enrollment in general CRP,
what pheasant hunters know as prime habitat, has dropped
from 1.3 million acres in 2007 to 321,000 acres today.
In more recent years, woody encroachment and urban
sprawl have also impacted the state’s remaining grasslands.
Unbeknownst to early conservationists, this once-exotic,
colorful bird would become the poster child for upland
conservation.
A Changing Landscape
“We call pheasants an ‘umbrella species’ because what’s
good for them is good for others,” said Nebraska Game
and Parks Wildlife Biologist Bryan O’Connor, explaining
that good pheasant habitat also benefits native species
such as bobwhite quail, songbirds, grouse, deer, turkey
and pollinators.
Upland conservation efforts reach far beyond one game
bird, he said, but it’s been an uphill struggle.
Advancements in agricultural technology post-World
War II, such as genetically modified crops, modern
herbicides and the invention of center-pivot irrigation,
dramatically increased productivity and transformed the
rural landscape. Those changes accelerated in the 1970s
under Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz, whose “Get Big
or Get Out” philosophy encouraged farmers to abandon
small-scale farming to maximize yield through large-scale
monoculture. A patchwork of small crop and hay fields and
pastures, and the fencelines separating them, was replaced
with huge expanses of corn and soybeans.
Furthermore, the encroachment of woody plants also
poses a grave and immediate threat to our state’s remaining
grasslands. The rapid expansion of eastern red cedar has
engulfed large areas of prairie and ranchland in short order,
36
Nebraskaland • October 2026
deteriorating grassland ecosystems and displacing the
grasses and wildflowers grazed by wildlife and livestock.
Berggren Pheasant Plan
By the 1980s, the alarm bell had been rung, spurring the
creation of Pheasants Forever, Inc. in Saint Paul, Minnesota,
by a group of concerned hunters and conservationists. A
new kind of conservation organization had been born, one
with a unique local chapter model that would raise money
and decide how funds would be spent in their communities,
shared PF Nebraska Senior State Coordinator Kelsi Wehrman.
This grassroots model spread to Nebraska in 1986 with
the formation of the Elkhorn Valley PF Chapter. Rightfully
nicknamed “The Habitat Organization,” Pheasants
Forever began working with the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission in the early 1990s to develop programs that
would restore pheasant habitat and increase hunting
opportunities — a partnership that continues today.
Then in 2016, Game and Parks’ new Berggren Pheasant
Plan expanded existing Focus on Pheasants conservation
initiatives on a statewide level. Its second iteration in 2022
also changed how the agency would communicate with the
public about pheasant hunting opportunities and included
an R3 (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) component
to help increase hunter participation.
Research was another part of the Berggren Pheasant
Plan. In cooperation with the University of NebraskaLincoln, researchers are helping to prioritize future habitat
restoration efforts by increasing their cost-effectiveness
and maximizing benefits to pheasants and other wildlife.
Since 2016, 141,250 acres, both public and private, have been
impacted through the plan.
Still — you would be hard pressed to find a farm bill
biologist who would feign blind optimism.
“When you think about the things pheasants need to
survive, there are so many things working against them,”
said John Laux, PF Habitat Protection Programs manager.
“Once a welcomed by-product of early agricultural practices,
our pheasant population now lives off the scraps of
remaining habitat where it’s tough to make a living.”
According to Laux, the solution is finding those “win-win”
conservation actions that simultaneously benefit private
landowners and wildlife.
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
37
The first Nebraska Game Commission habitat stamp
from 1977 was illustrated by Game and Parks artist
Duane Westerholt.
The Importance
of Landowners
Many landowners care about conservation.
That is the simple truth. The reality is,
the economic decisions that farmers make
today are much more complex than they
o n c e w e r e, s a i d A l i c i a H a r d i n , G a m e
and Parks wildlife division administrator.
Yet, in a state where more than 97% of land
is privately owned, the future of conservation
i s t r u l y i n t h e h a n d s o f l a n d o w n e r s.
Conservation interests such as Game and
Parks, Pheasants Forever, the Rainwater Basin
Joint Venture and the Nebraska Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are focused
on connecting with landowners open to
collaboration.
Often, these landowners hunted pheasants
when they were children and want to see the
birds make a comeback. Or a landowner has
unprofitable acres that they can no longer
farm because the land is too wet or the soil is
too concentrated with nitrates, and it makes
more sense to enroll it with the Conservation
Reserve Program. Some have no interest in
Marissa Jensen of Omaha hunts with her German shorthaired pointer on Open
hunting, but they want to see wildlife and an
Fields and Waters land near Crab Orchard. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
ecosystem that’s working in harmony on their
Open Fields and Waters Program. Contracts last one to
property, O’Connor said.
five years, and landowners receive payment each year for
Even ranchers who are looking to slow the encroachment
providing this access. Lands located within focus areas of
of eastern red cedar to maintain quality rangeland for their
the Berggren Pheasant Plan and/or lands where habitat
cattle may often find alignment with conservation goals.
work is being done may qualify for bonus payments.
Whether it’s working with the U.S. Department of
“When 40% of surveyed pheasant hunters use OFW
Agriculture, a Natural Resources Conservation Service
properties, providing a place to hunt is critical to sustain
program or one of Game and Parks’ programs, biologists
pheasant hunting in Nebraska,” said Adam Kester, Game
try to find ways to help incentivize habitat work.
and Parks’ access program manager. In 2025, the OFW
These are landowners who are asking, “What could
Program provided public access on 471,646 acres of
we do?” Hardin said. “We’re listening to their stories and
private land, including 91,877 acres of CRP and 30,535
connecting them with ways that they can do conservation
acres of small grain stubble.
work on the ground. ... It often starts just with their
Whether it is habitat work or providing access, interested
interest because they have a history on that land.”
landowners can contact their nearest Game and Parks
Landowners can also earn income by providing walk-in
office to get connected with a biologist.
hunting access by enrolling their lands in Game and Parks’
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
GET YOUR HABITAT STAMP
Why should someone who will never shoulder
a shotgun or set foot in the field care about
pheasants? Among those who may spend little
time outdoors, concerns about disappearing
grasslands may seem distant.
Yet the story of the pheasant is about far more
than hunting. It is also the story about the health
of the land we live on. According to the World
Resources Institute, healthy grasslands sustain
people in vital ways, including:
• Filtering the water we drink.
• Providing habitat for pollinators that improve
crop production on nearby farmland.
•
Building healthy soils by cycling nutrients
through extensive root systems, and by
providing a home to beneficial microbes
and fungi.
• Absorbing excess rainfall, slowing runoff into
streams and rivers, and helping reduce flood risk.
“As we come to the 100th pheasant
season in Nebraska, one truth has
remained constant: Our landowners
are the heart of this tradition.
Thank you for the care you put into
your land, the habitat you conserve
and the legacy you help carry forward.
Nebraska’s pheasant season exists
because of you.”
— Alicia Hardin, Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission wildlife division administrator
• Stabilizing soil with deep root systems that
prevent erosion, reduce runoff and allow
rainwater to soak into the ground and replenish
groundwater supplies.
Grasslands are the most threatened biomes
on Earth. More than 90% of North America’s
tallgrass prairies have been lost. “Yet despite
all this, grasslands receive disproportionately
little protection, funding and attention in global
conservation and climate agendas,” stated the WRI.
To help conserve Nebraska grasslands, purchase
a Game and Parks Habitat Stamp, which funds the
conservation, lease and management of wildlife
habitats across the state. While hunters are
required to purchase an annual stamp along with
the purchase of a hunting permit, nonhunters can
purchase the stamp as a standalone.
October 2026 •
Nebraskaland
39
A pheasant flushes for Calandra McCool of
Omaha during a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
hunt in Bartlett. Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
A Tradition Worth Keeping
Rooster pheasant, over-under shotgun
and 20 gauge shells. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
Pheasant hunting is not like sitting for deer on leased
property or, if a hunter is fortunate, walking family-owned
ground. And it’s not dropping thousands of dollars to hunt a
trophy bull elk in another state. Upland hunting is something
anyone can do: all you need is a shotgun and a pair of boots.
“Upland bird hunting opens up the whole state to you
as far as opportunity goes. I can pursue prairie grouse,
pheasants and quail throughout different parts of the state
for five months out of the year,” Laux said. “Fortunately,
there are still strongholds of habitat throughout Nebraska
and in nearby states that allow people to still have that
sense of exploration.”
And while Laux no longer has time to scout and sit
in a deer stand every morning as a working father with
young children, upland hunting still fits in with his “crazy”
schedule. He can go walk a field at any time of day for a
couple of hours, plus the season is long.
Pheasant hunting is attainable, which makes it worth
preserving for bringing along the next generations of
hunters. It’s a tradition that keeps people connected to
the land, and when people are connected to the land, it
gives them opportunities to become aware of conservation
concerns they would not have known otherwise.
On this 100th pheasant season, Pheasants Forever and
the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission look forward to a
future of securing conservation wins.
“Where can we find common ground to create habitat?”
Laux asked. “As the landscape evolves, we have opportunities
before us to find innovative ways to provide that habitat, to
create those benefits and to ensure the tradition continues.” N
A graphic commemorates the 100th Pheasant
Season. It is available as a sticker to all Upland
Slam participants.
SHERMAN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
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41
Nebraska’s Changing Boundaries
By David L. Bristow, Nebraska State Historical Society
N
Nebraska Territory’s original boundaries, in 1857, stretched from Kansas to Canada. NSHS M782 1857 R26
ebraska’s land is ancient, but its boundaries are
relatively new. Our borders went through several
changes before the state took on its present
distinctive shape. Even today, our state line has
several odd quirks.
“Nebraska,” based on an Otoe name meaning “flat water,”
began as the name of a river. Native tribes had their own
homelands and hunting grounds, which shifted over time as
various groups entered the region and competed for territory
and influence. From the perspective of the expanding United
States, present-day Nebraska was first considered part
of Louisiana Territory, then Missouri Territory and then
“unorganized territory.”
When Congress formally organized Nebraska Territory in
1854, it split off Kansas from what was originally going to be
Nebraska’s southern portion. These borders were imaginary
lines on paper as far as Native peoples were concerned, but
the lines were the first step in a process of treaty-making,
coerced land sales and dispossession in the new territory.
In 1857, government surveyors began formally marking the
territory’s southern boundary and dividing the land into the
square-mile grid that is followed to this day by roads and
fence lines.
No one thought Nebraska’s expansive boundaries would
be permanent. The first slices were carved away in 1861,
just before the Civil War began. The founding of Colorado
and Dakota Territories left Nebraska with a curiously long
panhandle until its western tip was given to Idaho Territory
two years later.
The new state of Nebraska in 1867. North of the
Niobrara, the future Boyd County is still in Dakota
Territory, while the counties of the panhandle and
southwest represent proposed counties that were
never adopted. NSHS M782 1867 M69
The “Long Panhandle” of 1861-1863 stretched nearly to Fort Bridger, Wyoming. NSHS M782 1862 J62
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
Even then, Nebraska maps from the next two decades
don’t look quite right. Due to a widely copied mapmaker’s
error, most maps during the first decade of statehood show
several western counties that never actually existed. But the
early state maps correctly showed the Niobrara and Keya
Paha rivers forming part of the state’s northern boundary.
Present-day Boyd County, Nebraska, was transferred from
Dakota Territory in 1882.
The U.S. Supreme Court made further adjustments in
an 1892 ruling that led to several border oddities. Officially,
the Missouri River forms the state’s eastern border. But the
river would not stay put. Its alluvial banks eroded quickly,
allowing the channel to shift over time. Normally state
boundaries follow these gradual changes, but in 1877 the
river cut a fresh channel across a bend in the river. Suddenly,
a new oxbow lake and a chunk of Iowa land lay west of the
river. Nebraska and Iowa both claimed it. The court ruled that
in such circumstances the state line does not change. That is
why today the most direct route from downtown Omaha to
Eppley Airfield passes briefly through Carter Lake, Iowa.
The same legal principle has left portions of Nebraska
east of the river surrounded by Iowa — for example, at
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge — and Missouri, across
from the town of Peru, and at a few other places. Meanwhile,
boaters traveling the length of Lewis and Clark Lake will
cross the Nebraska-South Dakota state line multiple times
while following the winding channel of the Missouri River,
which maintains its legal existence even while submerged
in a reservoir. N
The new Boyd County in 1892.
NSHS M782 1892 R15
Detail of an 1878 Omaha map shows
the old and new channels at presentday Carter Lake, Iowa. The legal dispute
between Iowa and Nebraska dragged
on for years. NSHS M78238 1878 R72 C1
Learn more at the NSHS’s website at history.nebraska.gov
October 2026 •
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Cat iandian cave state park
Story and Photos by
Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
The leaves of ironwood, a common
understory tree at Indian Cave
State Park, turn soft golden yellow
and rusty brown in late October.
October 2026 •
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45
The beauty of the understory
cannot be appreciated from a car
or overlook. It must be experienced
on foot, walking slowly with
eyes alert.
Coralberry is a short shrub growing in southeastern Nebraska
woodlands and pastures. Its beautiful red berries ripen in late
summer and early fall. They persist on plants well into winter and
are eaten by many bird species.
ABOVE: Maidenhair fern is common at Indian Cave State Park,
where it forms dense colonies in damp, shaded woodlands.
Its name comes from its slender, shiny black stems, which
supposedly resemble a maiden’s hair.
A bloom lingers on an American bellflower,
a common wildflower of eastern Nebraska
woodlands. Individual plants bloom from July
through early October, and this extended
bloom period helps ensure pollination.
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Nebraskaland • October 2026
TOP LEFT: Horse gentian, not a true gentian, is an uncommon
wildflower of far eastern Nebraska woodlands. Its berries occur
in small clusters in the leaf axils in early fall. During wartime
shortages, the berries were dried, roasted and brewed as a bitter
coffee substitute.
BOTTOM LEFT: The ripe, fleshy seeds of blackberry lily. Native
to eastern Asia and often planted as an ornamental, the plant
belongs to the iris family but has large, orange, lily-like flowers.
Plants in Indian Cave woodlands likely escaped from plantings
around old farmsteads that once occurred here.
October 2026 •
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47
OPPOSITE TOP: Wildflowers, shrubs and grasses on the woodland
floor at Indian Cave State Park are in their full autumn glory,
highlighted by the soft early morning sunlight.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Although often overlooked, the park’s
tallgrass prairie openings also display a show of autumn hues.
LEFT: Pear-shaped puffballs grow from a decaying log. This small
mushroom appears from summer through fall and sometimes
into early winter. Its spores are released through the top pore.
October transforms Indian Cave State Park into one of
Nebraska’s finest displays of fall color, with nearly 2,000
acres of deciduous woodlands blanketing the steep bluffs
overlooking the Missouri River.
Autumn’s transition begins with the sunshine yellows of
ash, walnut and hickory, then gives way to the muted reds
and browns of oaks. Visitors arrive from far and wide to take
in the grandeur of the tall trees in their full glory. But there
is more to see. Hidden beneath the colorful canopy is another
layer of beauty: the diverse understory, also in transition.
Like the canopy above, the leaves of shrubs, vines and
wildflowers create their own mosaic of color. Nearby hillside
prairies display a range of yellows, oranges, bronzes and
crimsons, with each color often reflecting a different grass
or wildflower. The observant might still find a few late
wildflowers in bloom or their ripe fruits still clinging to the
plants. Or scan fallen logs and the forest floor, where cooling
temperatures signal many mushroom species to emerge.
Among the most eye-catching are purplish webcaps, named
for the delicate web-like veil covering their gills, pear-shaped
puffballs and the large, orange shelves of chicken of the
woods growing from the bases of trees.
The beauty of the understory cannot be appreciated from
a car or overlook. It must be experienced on foot, walking
slowly with eyes alert. When you find a gem, sit down on the
soft earth, study it closely and enjoy the moment. Perhaps
you pick up a fallen elm leaf, hold it to the sunlight and take
in the near-fluorescent colors woven between its netted
veins. Or gently squeeze a mature puffball and watch a mist
of spores drift from its pore into the quiet autumn air.
The towering trees may draw people to Indian Cave in
October, but some of its finest autumn beauty is hidden
beneath their branches. N
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Some Visitors Don’t
Require a Reservation
Little Kid Laughing
MAHONEY STATE PARK - PETER KIEWIT LODGE
Ghost Stories from the Parks
seen several ghosts, but the one that really chills me appeared one
Edited by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
night during the Christmas season when the lodge was all decorated
I worked the overnight shift at the lodge for a few years, and I have
with garlands and Christmas trees. That night near 3 a.m., after I had
gotten all my night work done, I was sitting on the couch and heard
a crash — followed by laughing coming from the gift shop area.
I went to where I heard the crash and found the garland that was
around the window pulled down and a couple of Galileo thermometers
knocked over. I heard the laughing again and felt a breeze blow by me
but never saw anything. The entire lodge, save for me, was empty.
Most everyone who works at Mahoney knows that there are parts
Ghost Walker
CHADRON STATE PARK
My dad passed away Sept. 16, 2009, and my wife and I had rented
cabin No. 2 in mid-October. Early one morning, I got up to take our dog out.
With my back turned away from the road below, I heard a cough. When I turned
in the dim light, I saw a figure walking on the road. He was wearing a dark hat,
of the park where spirits and ghosts hang around. I had heard children
playing before and have seen both Confederate soldiers and an Native
American chief standing at the top of the stairs. We guess the chief
was from the Otoe tribe, but no one knows which one. As far as
the soldiers and children, no one knows who they are either.
~ Julianna Leighton, Administrative Specialist
coat and khaki pants, an outfit my dad wore quite often. I watched in stunned
silence as that figure walked out of my sight and behind some trees.
Chadron State Park was one of my dad’s favorite places, and we stayed
there together on occasion. I even have a picture of him fishing for trout
at the pond. I wasn’t spooked by what I experienced, only thinking that
was Dad’s way of telling me he was in a good place.
~ John Adams, Papillion
ILLUSTRATIONS BY RYAN HOLT
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Two Strangers, One Caboose
TWO RIVERS STATE RECREATION AREA
Normally, when I hear a spooky story, I tend to lean on the more skeptical
side of things. That said, I’ve also had my own share of strange encounters
that cannot be explained.
Two Rivers is home to 10 of the ever-popular, retired Union Pacific cabooses that have
been renovated into a unique lodging experience for folks to enjoy from mid-April until
the end of September. Managing these cabooses can be challenging at times, requiring
a great deal of time, personnel and resources in addition to a duteous staff to keep them
clean and running properly. Among the staff, we have had not one, but two separate
housekeepers who believed caboose No. 2 is haunted.
These housekeepers both claimed they had doors close behind them, light switches
flicked on or off on their own, heard disembodied whispers and footsteps, and had the
ever-present sensation of unease like they were being watched inside the unit.
Two Rivers has been my “home” since 2009, and I have been in that caboose countless
times. I have never experienced anything spooky or strange in caboose No. 2. However,
these two housekeepers do not even know each other. In fact, they worked at Two
Rivers three seasons apart.
Little Boy Blood
FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK
In early October a few years ago, my family booked two campsites
It is certainly enough to make the imagination run wild. Is there some old railroad
at Soldier Creek Campground, and the fall leaf change was absolutely magical.
worker dwelling there who refuses to retire? Do we have a spiritual caboose squatter
Almost every evening, we took the road across the creek, using the footbridge
and if so, will one of our brave conservation officers come ask them to leave?
as the creek was still flowing pretty good, and walked past the cemetery
~ Kirk Pawloski, Park Superintendent
to do a loop and pass by the new playground.
One evening toward the end of our stay, we had just crossed the footbridge
during twilight and were walking under the giant cottonwoods toward the cemetery
fence when my 4- year-old daughter looked up and casually asked, “Mom, why does
that boy have blood on his face?” She pointed over behind the brambles and trees
on the far side of the road. No one else saw anyone.
We hightailed it back to the campground! The next day, we all went to the museum
and searched for any little boys that might have died at the fort and came across a few
likely little ones. We did not go into the cemetery to inspect headstones, but there may
be a poor little boy wandering around the park looking for playmates. N
~ Katy Kuhnel, Creede, Colorado
ILLUSTRATIONS BY RYAN HOLT
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Mixed Bag
Mysterious Millipedes: These invertebrates participate in mass migrations each year, and scientists are not
entirely sure why. Learn more on page 56. BRIANNA NUGENT
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Mixed Bag
Millipede
Migration
By Brianna Nugent,
Community Science Program Manager
Animals migrate to search for
food, water or breeding grounds, and
iconic species like sandhill cranes
and monarch butterflies are familiar.
However, the mini migrations that
take place on the ground at night
during spring, late summer and fall
are lesser known. For reasons that
still are not completely understood,
millipedes have been observed
traveling in groups by the thousands
under the cover of darkness —
something I witnessed for the first
time recently.
A Sci-fi Moment
While assisting with bird banding
field trips in the fall at Chadron State
Park a few years ago, I went outside
to enjoy the evening on my first night
staying in one of the cozy, rustic cabins.
It was a clear night with a slight chill
in the air, and as darkness fell, a heavy
blanket of deep blue studded with
shimmering stars covered the sky. But
— as my luck would have it — I couldn’t
just have this peaceful night play out
like I had envisioned.
While attempting to grab
something from inside the cabin, I
discovered that I had been locked out
and my key was sitting on the table.
As I was trying to figure out a game
plan, I made another discovery:
Hundreds of tiny millipedes began
marching across the porch, making
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their way straight
for my front door. It
looked like a scene
Traveling cherry millipede. BRIANNA NUGENT
from a sci-fi movie.
I eventually got back into the cabin
behaviors, but it is believed that
through an open window and found
certain factors may trigger these
that they had gotten inside. I ended
migrations. Excessive rain or extreme
up covering the small space under the
droughts, breeding seasons, resource
door with a towel, and by morning,
competition or habitat disruption are
the porch was completely void of
all potential factors that could cause
marching millipedes. I released the
these spikes in movement. As the fall
few that had managed to get inside
chill begins to set in during September
the cabin.
and October, millipedes may be
This bizarre phenomenon sparked a
seeking out quarters to hibernate and
series of questions that sucked me into
overwinter, leading to increases in
an internet rabbit hole on all things
these nightly migrations.
related to mass millipede movements.
What Triggers Millipede
Migrations?
Millipedes are long, cylindrical or
flat invertebrates that are closely
related to lobsters and crayfish. Their
name translates to “thousands of
feet,” despite most species having less
than a hundred legs. Millipedes are
harmless to humans and spend their
time in moist soils underneath logs
and leaf litter, breaking down organic
matter and improving soil health.
Since they are typically nocturnal
with their active window falling
between dusk and dawn, you may
have never seen one.
Researchers still have a lot to
learn about millipedes and their
Tips for Keeping Them Out
While I love finding millipedes, I
don’t necessarily want droves of them
in my home. If you’ve had millipede
home invasions, look for entry points,
such as underneath doors or other
small openings, and avoid using
insecticides as they are virtually
ineffective in this scenario.
Instead, install weather strips under
garage doors to keep millipedes and
other insects from seeking shelter in
your space.
Also, organic matter that stays
moist and can provide shelter, such as
leaf litter and mulch, should be moved
away from your foundation to deter
millipedes from establishing around
your home.
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Mixed Bag
Minute Pirate Bugs:
More Painful Than
an Actual Pirate
By Kyle Koch, Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
If you’re outside in the fall, you’ve
probably experienced it. The painful,
relentless bites by some tiny black
bug that seems much too small to
deliver a bite so terrible. The offenders
responsible for so much aggravation
in the fall are known as minute pirate
bugs. And after a day of dealing with
their bites, one can understand why
these little bugs have a name that
sounds rather villainous.
Minute pirate bugs are only about
5 millimeters long as adults and can
be recognized by their oval-shaped,
black-and-white body. The bugs
have three life stages: egg, nymph
and adult. From eggs the bugs will
hatch into wingless nymphs, which
develop through five instars, each
increasingly larger, before maturing
into adults. The whole process from
egg to adult takes three weeks.
Although mostly noticed in the
fall, minute pirate bugs are present
throughout the growing season,
produc ing multiple generations
each year.
Minute pirate bugs are beneficial
as generalist predators in both the
nymph and adult stages, feeding on
a variety of soft-bodied insects such
as thrips, caterpillars, mites and
aphids. In fact, some species are even
reared and used commercially in some
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Photo by David G. James, Washington State University
settings as a biological control agent
for some common pests. As predators,
they are quite aggressive, grabbing
and holding prey with their front legs
before using their syringe-like beak to
puncture and suck out the juices from
the prey’s body.
However, as fall sets in and prey
starts to become scarcer, minute pirate
bugs start to wander in search of a
meal. Unfortunately, this sometimes
leads to these bugs jabbing their beak
into the skin of a person. When this
probing happens, nothing is injected
or ingested, but the physical puncture
is what causes the pain.
Because these bites are the result
of incidental encounters rather than a
specific attraction to humans, insect
repellents like DEET do not provide any
deterrence for minute pirate bugs. Light
colors do seem to be more attractive to
minute pirate bugs, so wearing darkcolored clothing with long sleeves may
help reduce bites. Luckily, the problem
is usually relatively short-lived, and the
bugs eventually go away with cooling
temperatures.
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Mixed Bag
Nebraska’s Conservation
Politician — Sandra Scofield
By Julie Thomas
Sandra Scofield describes herself as a farm kid who grew
up on a ranch in western Nebraska, where she showed
4-H sheep, played in the creek and hunted for agates and
horned lizards. Outdoor explorations were in the form of
regular family outings. Her mother taught her about plants
and animals while they hiked the Pine Ridge. Her uncle
took her trout fishing. And her father often loaded her in
the truck to help check cattle in the field. She especially
enjoyed following behind his Graham-Hoeme Chisel Plow,
which was designed to leave
crop residue to manage for
wind erosion — and helped to
uncover arrowheads.
As t h e s to r y go e s, t h i s
f a r m k i d d i d n’t c h o o s e a
political career — it chose her.
While pursuing a teaching
degree at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, one required
government course assignment
sent her to the Nebraska State
Capitol to track a bill. While
there, she went on a brief tour
with the clerk of the legislature
and interacted with several
senators. Although the bill she
picked never made it to the floor
for discussion, the experience
prompted her to believe she
might go into politics when
she was older, richer and more
well-connected. However, the
opportunity came much sooner than she expected.
In 1983, while working as a career counselor at Chadron
State College, Bob Kerry tapped Scofield to manage his 1983
gubernatorial campaign in northwestern Nebraska. When
Kerry won, he appointed her to fill a newly opened seat in the
49th legislative district.
Then in 1991, the newly elected Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson
asked Scofield to serve in his administration as chief of staff
and special assistant to oversee the state’s budget and policy
offices beginning in 1992.
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Soon after, Scofield began her legislative work, encouraged
by northwestern Nebraskans who wanted her to introduce
a bill for strict mining regulation; these concerned citizens
worried that uranium mining might contaminate groundwater.
“I had to educate myself and then educate colleagues on an
issue none of us knew anything about,” she said.
Just as she was learning who she was — and the political
role she would play — a news reporter questioned Scofield’s
concerns by asking, “Are you an environmentalist?”
“Well ...” Scofield answered, “if
an environmentalist is somebody
who thinks they ought to leave
something for future generations,
then, yes, I am — but I’d prefer the
term ‘conservationist’.”
In recent years, Sandra was
named president of the Friends
of the Environmental Trust. This
advocacy group is dedicated to
preserving the original mission
of the Nebraska Environmental
Trust, a grant program created in
1992 that receives state lottery
proceeds to fund environmental
c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d h a b i ta t
restoration across Nebraska. The
Friends of the Environmental
Trust actively works to make
sure the NET follows equitable
procedures, builds public trust,
maximizes grant applications
and funding opportunities and
reopens funding processes to public scrutiny.
From farm kid to champion conservationist, Scofield shows
no signs of slowing down.
Julie Thomas is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor
emerita and a Nebraska Master Naturalist. To celebrate our
history of conservation storytelling, Nebraskaland will feature
experts who have made a difference for Nebraska’s wildlife and
wild places. Without their work, Nebraskaland writers would
have fewer stories to tell.
October 2026 •
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Portraits from the Past
Trap Shoot, 1920s
This is a picture of my
grandfather, John Wertz (far
left), and four other top shooters
at a trap shoot. The man on the
far right, Miles Maryott from
Oshkosh, was a man of many
talents. He was a skilled wildlife
artist, taxidermist, marksman,
outdoorsman and professional
baseball player. He also killed
the marshal of Oshkosh during a
shootout in 1926.
– Jim Wertz, Paxton
Turkey Hunt, 1982
My grandfather, Bernard Kavan, on his
spring turkey hunt east of Linwood in
April 1982.
Deer Hunting, 1985
My grandfather harvested this doe
during the rifle season on Nov. 11, 1985.
I was only 2 years old in this photo.
Pictured is my grandfather Bernard Kavan
(left), me and my father, Ray Prochaska Jr.
– Nick Prochaska, Surprise
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, Nebraskaland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 685030370. Or e-mail to Jenny.Wheatley@Nebraska.gov. Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor
activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have been taken before 2006. We will give
priority to unusual photos or activities. When possible, please include a story about the photograph and
identify the people, places and approximate date it was taken. Text may be edited and photos adjusted for
reproduction. All photos will be returned. Please send ORIGINALS if possible for best reproduction.
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Mixed Bag Hunt in the Pine Ridge, 1960s
This is a picture of my father, William “Bill” Hudson and John Kurtz of Crawford, and their take of
pheasants and jackrabbits in the Pine Ridge area. This picture and article appeared in Outdoor Nebraska,
now known as Nebraskaland magazine, in 1961. My father was an avid outdoorsman who taught his
children the same lifestyle. At this time, he was the mayor of Crawford and was later known for the
early development of the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center north of Crawford.
– Michael Hudson, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
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The Last Stop
Calling all Carvers
By Jeff Kurrus
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Shot at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch — one of the premier fall festivals in the country — this pumpkin
carving is one of the most eye-catching we’ve seen. Until we see yours. Tag @Nebraskaland in your
pumpkin photos on Instagram to appear in a future issue of Nebraskaland.
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